EVMs made compulsory for local body elections by Punjab government
Dec 13, 2021: The Punjab government has made it mandatory to use Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the upcoming local body elections through amendments to the Local Bodies Act.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Usman Bazdar approved the amendments to make the use of EVMs mandatory for voting in next year’s local elections.
It further states that any political party or independent candidate will contest the election in the form of a panel consisting of a mayor, deputy mayor and councilor.
“The use of EVMs is a must in the Local Government elections and it will be organised by secret balloting,” said an ordinance issued by the Punjab government.
Further adding, “Those who would not issue panels for all categories would not be able to contest elections.”
The new ordinance sets the minimum age for contesting a councilor seat at 21 years and 25 years for a mayor and deputy mayor seat. Elected members will be required to take the oath within 60 days of the first meeting of the Council.
In a statement on Sunday, the Punjab Chief Minister said that Parliament had passed a law on EVMs and now the Punjab government would also ensure voting through machines.
On December 2, Federal Minister for Information and Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that the government would offer full cooperation in the elections to be held through EVM.
While talking to reporters in Islamabad, the minister said that elections via EVMs will not be expensive, saying, “The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will not have to purchase electronic devices every time there is a new election,” he said.
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